Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALD.
WASHINGTON. Anril 18Th 1877.

sassinatiOn of the great War Presi-
dent thrilled the Capital like the
tremor of an earthquake.
The whole country quivered with
the shock. There had never been
nor has there been here since such
a period of horror, Indignation, and
apprehension. 1t was even feared
that the tragedy might temporarily
undo the work that had just been
achieved and again unsettle the
foundations OF the public peace
Every one was frightened, every
one was regarded with suspicion.
Neighbors, yes, even old friends
eyed each other askance, while ar
rests were so plentiful as to Justify
and prolong the intense excite
mont.
The belief that the handsome,
hot-blooded young actor was but
the chosen instrument of a well
formed conspiracy, in which many
men of note were concerned, made
people afraid Of members of their
own family. Martial law practi-
cally prevailed, and it was well
nigh impossible to pass the city
limits. No man was without sus'
picion, and 1t seemed as if chaos 1t
self had control. Never was a ma
ton more torn by excitement, or
more sorely tried, and then the
other attempted asSassinatiOns, anc
the wild cry for vehgeance-but 1t
is an old, old story.
1t was the final baptism of the
Union in blood, and although the
great war went out in tears, it left
behind it, moIe indestructible than
ever, all glorious without and with
in, the principles of constitutional
liberty, equality and fraternity, for
which Lincoln, yielding the best
years of his life, yielded life itself
at last.
To-day the streets of the city
have been filled with cOlored peo-
pie aud the music OF brass bands.
II is the twenty.ffth anniversary
of the emancipation of slaves in the
District of Columbia, and it has
been celebrated with a street pa
rade and other exercises. The eel
ebration was one of the largest OF
the kind which has ever taken place
here, and there we're about 10000
people in the procession. Its line
of march was through the White
House grounds, and the President
viewed it, standing on the front
portico of the Mansion.
The decision of the Inter State
Commission that there is nothing
in the law to prohibit the railroads
from granting reduced rates to or
CARNATIONS and individuals coming
to the National Drill, will relieve a
good many people In different parts
ofthe country of a misrepresentation
as to the Interpretation of the law,
and will tend greatly TO increase
the crowd in attendance. As the
time draws near all the leading rail
road lines are making arrangements
for carrying immense crowds of ex-
cursionists.
The White Lot, where the con-
test will take place, has been turn
ed oyer by the War Department to
the Drill committee, and the cree
ton of grand stands for spectators
will commence at once. Some OF
the troops are coming in advance
TO the Drill, and consequently the
work of putting the Monument
grounds in condition for the camp
has to be carried on as rapidly as
possible. One of the unsettled
questions is, "What soldier will be
called to the command p 1t is
urged that he should be one of
wide reputation. There Will be an
immense cOncOurse of Americans
gathered here and the arrange
ments should be as national as pos
sible in every particular.
The Bureau of Information aud
Comfort of the Drill committee, has
issued a circular announcing that
for the benefit of strangers and
visitors in the city they propose to
keep a list of hotels, boarding and
lodging houses, where rooms and
beds with and without meals can
be had. Rooms of all kinds and
classes are registered at prices
ranging from II upwards, and
meals can he had from % cents mp
wards.
The Senatorial Select Committee,
which is investigating the work
ings of the Executive Departments
here, and trying to probe their
methods, has undertaken a gigan'
TIC task. When its final report IS
made, however, the result Of Its
labOrs will doubtless be interesting
and abound in a kind of iuforma'
ton which is now a sealed book to
the public. The committee has an
excellent opportunity to find out
for the benefit of the public also
whether Civil Service Reform is
really all that its friends clam, OF
whether it is a fraud, as argued by
its opponents.
West Virginia Jail Delivery.